MYSTIC CHRISTIANITY/PARY1
THE FIRST LESSON.
THE COMING OF THE
MASTER.
THE FORERUNNER.
Strange
rumors reached the ears of the people of Jerusalem and the surrounding country.
It was reported that a new prophet had appeared in the valley of the lower
Jordan, and in the wilderness of Northern Judea, preaching startling doctrines.
His teachings resembled those of the prophets of old, and his cry of
"Repent! Repent ye! for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand," awakened
strange memories of the ancient teachers of the race, and caused the common
people to gaze wonderingly at each other, and the ruling classes to frown and
look serious, when the name of the new prophet was mentioned.
The
man whom the common people called a prophet, and whom the exalted ones styled
an impostor, was known as John the Baptist, and dwelt in the wilderness away
from the accustomed haunts of men. He was clad in the rude garments of the
roaming ascetics, his rough robe of camel's skin being held around his form by
a coarse girdle of leather. His diet was frugal and elemental, consisting of
the edible locust of the region, together with the wild honey stored by the
bees of the wilderness.
In
appearance John, whom men called "the Baptist," was tall, wiry, and
rugged. His skin was tanned a dark brown by the winds and sun which beat upon
it unheeded. His long black hair hung loosely around his shoulders, and was
tossed like the mane of a lion when he spoke. His beard was rough and
untrimmed. His eyes gleamed like glowing coals, and seemed to burn into the
very soul of his hearers. His was the face of the religious enthusiastic with a
Message for the world.
This
wild prophet was most strenuous, and his teachings were couched in the most
vigorous words. There was no tact, policy, or persuasion in his message. He
hurled his verbal thunderbolts right into his crowd, the very force and
earnestness emanating from him serving to charge his words with a vitality and
magnetism which dashed itself into the crowd like a spark of electricity,
knocking men from off their feet, and driving the Truth into them as if by a
charge of a powerful explosive. He told them that the spiritual grain was to be
gathered into the garners, while the chaff was to be consumed as if by a fiery
furnace; that the axe was to be laid to the root of the trees which brought not
forth good fruit. Verily, the "Day of Jehovah," long promised by the
prophets, was near to hand to his hearers and followers.
John
soon gathered to himself a following, the people flocking to him from all parts
of the country, even from Galilee. His followers began to talk among
themselves, asking whether indeed this man were not the long promised
Master—the Messiah for whom all Israel had waited for centuries. This talk
coming to the ears of the prophet, caused him to answer the question in his
discourses, saying: "There cometh one mightier than I, after me, the
latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose; he that
cometh after me is mightier than I." And thus it became gradually known to
his following, and the strangers attending his meetings, that this John the
Baptist, mighty preacher though he be, was but the herald of one much greater
than he, who should follow—that he was the forerunner of the Master, according
to the Oriental imagery which pictured the forerunner of the great dignitaries,
running ahead of the chariot of his master, crying aloud to all people gathered
on the road that they must make way for the approaching great man, shouting
constantly, "Make ye a way! make ye a way for the Lord!" And
accordingly there was a new wave of excitement among John's following, which
spread rapidly to the surrounding country, at this promise of the coming of the
Lord—the Master—perhaps even the Messiah of the Jews. And many more came unto
John, and with him waited for the Coming of the Master.
This
John the Baptist was born in the hill country of Judea, nearly thirty years
before he appeared as a prophet. His father was of the priestly order, or
temple caste, who had reached an advanced age, and who lived with his aged wife
in retirement, away from the noise and confusion of the world, waiting the
gradual approach of that which cometh to all men alike. Then there came to them
a child of their old age, unexpected and unhoped for—coming as a mark of
especial favor from God—a son, to whom they gave the name of Johanan,
which in the Hebrew tongue means "Jehovah is gracious."
Reared
in the home of his parents—the house of a priest—John saturated himself with
all the Inner Teachings reserved for the few, and withheld from the masses. The
Secrets of the Kaballah, that system of Hebrew Occultism and Mysticism in which
the higher priests of Judea were well versed, were disclosed to him, and occult
tradition has it that he was initiated into the Inner Circle of the Hebrew
Mystics, composed of only priests of a certain grade, and their sons. John
became an Occultist and a Mystic. When the boy reached the age of puberty, he
departed from the home of his parents, and went into the wilderness,
"looking to the East, from whence cometh all Light." In other words,
he became an Ascetic, living in the wilderness, just as in India even to-day
youths of the Brahmin or priestly class sometimes forsake their homes,
renouncing their luxurious life, and fly to the jungle, where they wander about
for years as ascetics, wearing a single garment, subsisting on the most elementary
food, and developing their spiritual consciousness. John remained a recluse
until he reached the age of about thirty years, when he emerged from the
wilderness to preach the "Coming of the Lord," in obedience to the
movings of the Spirit. Let us see where he was, and what he did, during the
fifteen years of his life in the wilderness and hidden places of Judea.
The
traditions of the Essenes, preserved among Occultists, state that while John
was an ascetic he imbibed the teachings of that strange Occult Brotherhood
known as the Essenes, and after having served his apprenticeship, was accepted
into the order as an Initiate, and attained their higher degrees reserved only
for those of developed spirituality and power. It is said that even when he was
a mere boy he claimed and proved his right to be fully initiated into the
Mysteries of the Order, and was believed to have been a reincarnation of one of
the old Hebrew prophets.
THE ESSENES.
The
Essenes were an ancient Hebrew Occult Brotherhood, which had been in existence
many hundred years before John's time. They had their headquarters on the
Eastern shores of the Dead Sea, although their influence extended over all of
Palestine, and their ascetic brothers were to be found in every wilderness. The
requirements of the Order were very strict, and its rites and ceremonies were
of the highest mystical and occult degree. The Neophyte was required to serve a
preliminary apprenticeship of one year before being admitted to even partial
recognition as a member and brother. A further apprenticeship of two more years
was required before he was admitted to full membership, and extended the right
hand of fellowship. Additional time was required for further advancement, and
even time alone did not entitle the member to certain high degrees, the
requirements being that actual knowledge, power and attainment must first be
manifested. As in all true Occult Orders the candidate must "work out his
own salvation," neither money nor influence having any weight.
Absolute
obedience to the Rules of the Order; absolute poverty of material possessions;
absolute sexual continence—these were the conditions of membership to be
observed by both Neophyte and Initiate, as well as High-degree Master.
Understanding this, one may imagine the disgust inspired in John by the amorous
solicitations of Salome, which caused him to lose his life rather than to break
the vows of his Order, as is so startlingly pictured in the stage productions
of modern times.
One
of the ceremonies of the Essenes was that of Baptism (literally, "dipping
in water") which was administered to Candidates, with appropriate
solemnity and rites. The mystic significance of the ceremony which is
understood by all members of Occult Orders, even unto this day, was a part of
the ritual originated by the Essenes, and the rite itself was a distinctive
feature of their Order. The performance of this rite by John the Baptist, in
his ministry, and its subsequent acceptance by the Christian Church as a
distinctive ceremonial, of which the "sprinkling of infants" of
to-day is a reminder and substitute, forms a clear connecting link between the
Essenes and Modern Christianity, and impresses the stamp of Mysticism and
Occultism firmly upon the latter, as little as the general public may wish to admit
it in their ignorant misunderstanding and materialistic tendencies.
The
Essenes believed in, and taught the doctrine of Reincarnation; the Immanence of
God; and many other Occult Truths, the traces of which appear constantly in the
Christian Teachings, as we shall see as we progress with these lessons. Through
its Exalted Brother, John the Baptist, the Order passed on its teaching to the
early Christian Church, thus grafting itself permanently upon a new religious
growth, newly appearing on the scene. And the transplanted branches are still
there!
Of
course, the true history of the real connection between the Essenes and
Christianity is to be found only in the traditions of the Essenes and other
ancient Mystic Orders, much of which has never been printed, but which has
passed down from teacher to pupil over the centuries even unto this day, among
Occult Fraternities. But in order to show the student that we are not making
statements incapable of proof by evidence available to him, we would refer him
to any standard work of reference on the subject. For instance, if he will
consult the "New International Encyclopedia" (Vol. VII, page 217)
article on "Essenes," he will read the following words:
"It
is an interesting question as to how much Christianity owes to Essenism. It
would seem that there was room for definite contact between John the Baptist
and this Brotherhood. His time of preparation was spent in the wilderness near
the Dead Sea; his preaching of righteousness toward God, and justice toward one's
fellow men, was in agreement with Essenism; while his insistence on Baptism was
in accord with the Essenic emphasis on lustrations."
The
same article contains the statement that the Essenic Brotherhood taught a
certain "view entertained regarding the origin, present state, and future
destiny of the soul, which was held to be pre-existent, being entrapped
in the body as in a prison," etc. (The above italics are our own.)
John
emerged from the wilderness when he had reached the age of about thirty years,
and began his ministry work, which extended for several years until his death
at the hands of Herod. He gathered around him a large and enthusiastic
following, beginning with the humbler classes and afterward embracing a number
of higher social degree. He formed his more advanced followers into a band of
disciples, with prescribed rules regarding fasting, worship, ceremonial, rites,
etc., closely modeled upon those favored by the Essenes. This organization was
continued until the time of John's death, when it merged with the followers of
Jesus, and exerted a marked influence upon the early Christian church.
As
we have stated, one of his principal requisites enjoined upon all of his
followers, was that of "Baptism"—the Essenic rite, from which he
derived his familiar appellation, "The Baptist." But, it must be
remembered that to John this rite was a most sacred, mystic, symbolic ceremony,
possessing a deep occult meaning unperceived by many of his converts who
submitted themselves to it under the fervor of religious emotion, and who naïvely regarded
it as some magical rite which "washed away sin" from their souls, as
the dirt was washed from their bodies, a belief which seems to be still in
favor with the multitude.
John
worked diligently at his mission, and the "Baptists" or
"Followers of Johanan," as they were called, increased rapidly. His
meetings were events of great moment to thousands who had gathered from all
Palestine to see and hear the prophet of the wilderness—the Essene who had
emerged from his retirement. His meetings were often attended with startling
occurrences, sudden conversions, visions, trances, etc., and many developed
possession of unusual powers and faculties. But one day there was held a
meeting destined to gain world-wide fame. This was the day when there came to
John the Baptist the MASTER, of whose coming John had frequently foretold and
promised. JESUS THE CHRIST appeared upon the scene and confronted his
Forerunner.
The
traditions have it that Jesus came unannounced to, and unrecognized by John and
the populace. The Forerunner was in ignorance of the nature and degree of his
guest and applicant for Baptism. Although the two were cousins, they had not
met since childhood, and John did not at first recognize Jesus. The traditions
of the Mystic Orders further state that Jesus then gave to John the various
signs of the Occult Fraternities to which they both belonged, working from the
common signs up until Jesus passed on to degrees to which John had not
attained, although he was an eminent high-degree Essene. Whereupon John saw
that the man before him was no common applicant for Baptism, but was, instead,
a highest-degree Mystic Adept, and Occult Master—his superior in rank and
unfoldment. John, perceiving this, remonstrated with Jesus, saying that it was
not meet and proper, nor in accordance with the customs of the Brotherhoods,
for the inferior to Baptize the superior. Of this event the New Testament takes
note in these words: "But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be
baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?" (Matt. 3:14.) But Jesus
insisted that John perform the rite upon him upon the ground that He wished to
go through the ceremonial in order to set His stamp of approval upon it, and to
show that he considered himself as a man among men, come forth to live the life
of men.
In
both the occult traditions and the New Testament narrative, it is stated that a
mystical occurrence ensued at the baptism, "the Spirit of God descending
like a dove and lighting upon Him," and a voice from Heaven saying:
"This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."
And
with these words the mission of John the Baptist, as "Forerunner of the
Master," was fulfilled. The Master had appeared to take
up his work.
THE MASTER.
And,
now, let us turn back the pages of the Book of Time, to a period about thirty
years before the happening of the events above mentioned. Let us turn our gaze
upon the events surrounding the birth of Jesus, in order that we may trace the
Mystic and Occult forces at work from the beginning of Christianity. There are
occurrences of the greatest importance embraced in these thirty years.
Let
us begin the Mystic Narrative of Jesus the Christ, as it is told to the
Neophyte of every Occult Order, by the Master Instructor, by a recital of an
event preceding his birth by over one year.
In
Matthew 2:1-2, the following is related:
"Now
when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king,
behold, there came Wise Men from the East to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he
that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the East, and are
come to worship him."
In
these simple words is stated an event that, expressed in a much more extended
narrative, forms an important part of the Esoteric Teachings of the Mystic
Brotherhoods, and Occult Orders of the Orient, and which is also known to the
members of the affiliated secret orders of the Western world. The story of THE
MAGI is embedded in the traditions of the Oriental Mystics, and we shall here
give you a brief outline of the story as it is told by Hierophant to
Neophyte—by Guru to Chela.
To
understand the story, you must know just who were these "Wise Men of the
East"—The Magi. And this you shall now be taught.
THE MAGI, OR WISE MEN.
The
translators of the New Testament have translated the words naming these
visitors from afar as "the Wise Men from the East," but in the
original Greek, Matthew used the words "The Magi" as may be
seen by reference to the original Greek versions, or the Revised Translation,
which gives the Greek term in a foot-note. Any leading encyclopedia will
corroborate this statement. The term "the Magi" was the exact
statement of Matthew in the original Greek in which the Gospel was written, the
term "the Wise Men" originating with the English translators. There
is absolutely no dispute regarding this question among Biblical scholars,
although the general public is not aware of the connection, nor do they
identify the Wise Men with the Oriental Magians.
The
word "Magi" comes to the English language direct from the Greek,
which in turn acquired it by gradual steps from the Persian, Chaldean, Median,
and Assyrian tongues. It means, literally, "wonder worker," and was
applied to the members of the occult priestly orders of Persia, Media, and
Chaldea, who were Mystic Adepts and Occult Masters. Ancient history is full of
references to this body of men. They were the custodians of the world's occult
knowledge for centuries, and the priceless treasures of the Inner Teachings
held by the race to-day have come through the hands of these men—the Magi—who
tended the sacred fires of Mysticism and kept The Flame burning. In thinking of
their task, one is reminded of the words of Edward Carpenter, the poet, who
sings: "Oh, let not the flame die out! Cherished age after age in its dark
caverns, in its holy temples cherished. Fed by pure ministers of love—let not
the flame die out."
The
title of "Magi" was highly esteemed in those ancient days, but it
fell into disrepute in the latter times owing to its growing use as an appellation
of the practitioners of "Black Magic," or "evil
wonder-workers" or sorcerers, of those days. But as a writer in the New
International Encyclopedia (Vol. XII, page 674) has truly said:
"The
term is employed in its true sense by Matthew (2:1) of the wise men who
came from the East to Jerusalem to worship Christ. The significance of this
event must be observed because the Messianic doctrine was an old and
established one in Zoroastrianism."
The
same article says of the Magi: "… they believed in a resurrection, a
future life, and the advent of a savior."
To
understand the nature of the Magi in connection with their occult "wonder
working," we must turn to the dictionaries, where we will see that the
word "Magic" is derived from the title "Magi;" the word
"Magician" having been originally "Magian", which means
"one of the Magi." Webster defines the word "Magic" as
follows: "The hidden wisdom supposed to be possessed by the Magi; relating
to the occult powers of nature; mastery of secret forces in nature", etc.
So you may readily see that we are right in stating to you that these Wise
Men—the Magi who came to worship the Christ-child, were in reality the
representatives of the great Mystic Brotherhoods and Occult Orders of the
Orient—Adepts, Masters, Hierophants! And thus do we find the Occult and Mystic
"wonder workers"—the high-degree brethren of the Great Eastern Lodges
of Mystic Occultism, appearing at the very beginning of the Story of
Christianity, indicating their great interest in the mortal birth of the
greater Master whose coming they had long waited—the Master of Masters! And all
Occultists and Mystics find pleasure and just pride in the fact that the first
recognition of the Divine Nature of this human child came from these Magi from
the East—from the very Heart of the Mystic Inner Circles! To those so-called
Christians to whom all that is connected with Mysticism and Occultism savors of
the fiery sulphur and brimstone, we would call attention to this intimate early
relation between The Musters and THE MASTER.
THE STAR IN THE EAST.
But
the Mystic story begins still further back than the visit of the Magi to
Bethlehem. Did not the Magi say, "Where is He? We have seen His star in
the East and have come to worship him." What is meant by the words,
"We have seen his star in the East"?
To
the majority of Christians the "Star of Bethlehem" means a great star
that suddenly appeared in the heavens, like a great beacon light, and which
miraculously guided the steps of the Magi, mile by mile, on their weary
journey, until at last it rested in the heavens, stationary over the house in
which the child Jesus lived, between the ages of one and two years. In other
words, they believe that this star had constantly guided these skilled mystics,
occultists and astrologers, in their journey from the far East, which occupied
over a year, until it at last guided them to Bethlehem and then stopped
stationary over the house of Joseph and Mary. Alas! that these vulgar
traditions of the ignorant multitude should have served so long to obscure a
beautiful mystic occurrence, and which by their utter improbability and
unscientific nature should have caused thousands to sneer at the very true
legend of the "Star of Bethlehem." It remains for the Mystic traditions
to clear away the clouds of ignorance from this beautiful story, and to
re-establish it in the minds of men as a natural and scientific occurrence.
This
story of the "traveling star" arose from the superstitious and
ignorant ideas of many of the Christians of the first, second, and third
centuries after Christ's death. These tales were injected into the manuscripts
left by the disciples, and soon began to be regarded as a part and portion of
the authentic Gospels and Epistles, although the skilled Biblical critics and
scholars of to-day are rapidly discarding many of these additions as wilful
forgeries and interpolations. It must be remembered that the oldest manuscripts
of the books of the New Testament are known to Biblical scholars to have been
written not less than three hundred years after the time of the
original writing, and are merely copies of copies of the
originals, undoubtedly added to, altered, and adulterated by the writers
through whose hands they had passed. This is not merely the statement of an outside
critic—it is a fact that is clearly stated in the writings of the scholars in
the Churches engaged in the work of Biblical study, and the Higher Criticism,
to which works we refer any who may have reason to doubt our statement.
That
portion of the verse (Matt. 2:9.) in which it is said that "and lo;
the star which they saw in the east went before them, till it came and stood
over where the young child was," is known to the Mystic and Occult Orders
to be a rank interpolation into the story of the Magi. It is contrary to their
own traditions and records, and is also contrary to reason and to scientific
laws, and this distorted story alone has been the cause of the development of
thousands of "infidels" who could not accept the tale.
All
intelligent men know that a "star" is not a mere tiny point of flame
in the dome which shuts us out from a Heaven on the other side of the blue
shell, although this view was that of the ancient people, and many ignorant men
and women to-day. Educated people know that a "star" is either a
planet of our solar system, similar to the sister planet which we called the
Earth, or else is a mighty sun, probably many times larger than our sun,
countless millions of miles distant from our solar system. And they know that
planets have their invariable orbits and courses, over which they travel,
unceasingly, so true to their course that their movements may be foretold
centuries ahead, or calculated for centuries back. And they know that even the
great fixed stars, those distant suns and centers of great solar systems akin
to our own, have their own places in the Universe, also their Universal
relations and movements. All who have studied even the most elementary school
book on astronomy know these things. And yet such people are asked to swallow
whole this story of the "moving star," traveling on a little ahead of
the shepherds for over a year, and at last standing right over the home of
Jesus, and thus indicating that the search was ended. Let us compare this
unscientific tale, with the traditions and legends of the Mystics, and then
take your choice.
Had
there been any such star in appearance, the historians of that day would surely
have recorded it, for there were learned and wise men in the East in those
days, and as astrology was a science closely studied, it would have been noted
and passed on to posterity by both writings and tradition. But no such record
or tradition is to be found among the Eastern peoples, or the records of the
astrologers. But another record and tradition is preserved, as
we shall see in a moment.
Yes,
there really was a "Star of Bethlehem" which led the
feet of the Magi to the home of the infant Jesus. We have the following proof
of this fact:
(1)
the traditions and teachings of the Mystic Orders which have been handed down
from teacher to student for centuries;
(2)
the statements and records of the Ancient Astrologers, which may be proven by
modern astronomical calculations; and
(3)
the calculations made by modern astronomers, which shall be stated a few
paragraphs further on. These three sources of information give us the same
tale, as we shall see.
Before
proceeding to a consideration of this three-fold evidence, let us pause for a
moment and consider the relation of the Magi to Astrology. To understand the
narrative of the Magi's Visit to Jesus, we must remember that they were the
very Masters of Astrological Lore. Persia and the surrounding Oriental
countries were the fountain-head of Astrological Teaching. And these Magi were
Masters, and Adepts, and Hierophants, and consequently knew all that was known
to the greatest schools of Astrology of that day. Much of their Ancient
Astrological Lore has been lost to the race of to-day, but to these ancient
learned men it was as much of a science as chemistry and astronomy are to the
learned ones of our day.
The
Magi had long waited for the appearance and incarnation of a Great Master of
Masters, whose appearance had been predicted centuries before by some of the
great Occult Fathers of the Mystic Orders, and each generation hoped that the
event would come in his day. They had been taught that when the event took
place, they would be informed by means of the planets, according to the Higher
Astrology. All students of even our modern fragmentary astrology will
understand this. And so they waited and carefully scanned the heavens for the
sign.
Now
the traditions of the Occult Orders inform us that at last the Magi witnessed a
peculiar conjunction of planets; first, the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter,
in the Constellation of Pisces, the two planets being afterward joined by the
planet Mars, the three planets in close relation of position, making a
startling and unusual stellar display, and having a deep astrological
significance. Now, the Constellation of Pisces, as all astrologers, ancient and
modern, know, is the constellation governing the national existence of Judea.
Seeing the predicted conjunction of the planets, occurring in the Constellation
having to do with Judea (as well as the relative positions of the other planets,
all of which played its part in the observation), the Magi knew two
things, i.e., (1) that the birth of the Master of Masters had
occurred; and (2) that He had been born in Judea, as indicated by the
constellation in which the conjunction occurred. And, so, making the
calculation of the exact moment of the conjunction, they started on their long
journey toward Judea in search of the Master of Masters.
Now,
again, the records of the Astrologers, preserved in the Oriental Occult
Brotherhoods, in their monasteries, etc., show that at a period a few years
before the Christian Era such a peculiar conjunction and combination of the
planets occurred in the Constellation symbolizing the destinies of Judea, which
was interpreted as indicating the appearance of an Incarnation or Avatar of a
Great Divine Soul—a Master of Masters—a Mystic of Mystics. It must be
remembered that these Orders are composed of non-Christians—people that the
average Christian would call "heathens," and that therefore this
testimony must be regarded as free from bias toward Christianity or the
corroboration of its legends.
And,
in the third place, the calculations of Modern Astronomy show without
possibility of contradiction that in the Roman year 747 (or seven years before
the Christian Era) the planets Saturn and Jupiter farmed a conjunction
in the Constellation of Pisces, and that these two planets, still in close
position to each other, were joined by the planet Mars in the Spring of 748.
The great astronomer Kepler first made this calculation in the year 1604, and
it has been since verified by modern calculations. To those who would object
that all this occurred seven years before the commonly accepted date of the
birth of Christ, we would say that any modern work on New Testament Chronology,
or any encyclopedia or reference work on the subject, will show that the former
calculations were several years out of the way, and that the records of other
events mentioned in the Bible, such as the "enrollment" of the
people, which brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, enable modern Biblical
scholars to fix the date of the birth of Christ at about six or seven years
before the usually accepted time. So that modern research fully corroborates
the astrological record and the Mystic traditions.
And
so it would appear that the coming of the Wise Men—the Magi—was in accordance
with the astrological signs, of the interpretation of which they were adepts
and masters. When this truth is known, how puerile and petty seems the myth of
the "traveling star" of the commonly accepted exoteric version? And
the pictures of the Wise Men being led by a moving heavenly body, traveling
across the skies and at last standing still over the cottage of Joseph, with
which the Sunday school books are filled, must be relegated to the same
waste-paper basket which contains the Bible illustrations, formerly so popular,
which picture Jehovah as a bald-headed old man with a long white beard, clad in
flowing robes designed to hide his body. Is it any wonder that skeptics,
infidels, and scoffers of the spiritual truths have arisen in great numbers,
when they have been asked to accept these things or be damned?
And
is not this connection of Astrology with Early Christianity a rebuke to the
modern Christian Church which sneers and scoffs at the science of astrology as
a "base superstition" fit only for fools and ignoramuses? Does not
this picture of the Magi give a clear view of that which was formerly regarded
as a mere fable, to be solemnly smiled over and taught to the children, with whom
the story has always been a favorite owing to their intuitive perception of an
underlying truth. And now with this Mystic version, cannot you enjoy
the legend with the children? In this connection let us once more quote from
the New International Encyclopedia (Vol. II, 170), a standard reference work,
as you know, which says:
"Some
of the earlier Christian Fathers argued against the doctrines of the earlier
astrology, while others received them in a modified form; and indeed it formed
a part of the basis of their religion in the Gospel narrative of the visit to
Bethlehem of the Wise Men of the East, who were Chaldean Magi or
Astrologers."
Here
is the testimony in all of the standard reference books, and yet how many of
you have known it?
To
understand the importance of the event which drew the steps of the Magi to
Bethlehem, we must realize that the Coming of the Master was a favorite subject
of speculation and discussion among Occultists and Mystic organizations all
over the Oriental countries. It had been foretold, in all tongues, that a Great
Master would be given to the world—a mighty avatar or
appearance of Deity in human form, who would incarnate in order to redeem the
world from the materiality which threatened it. The Sacred Writings of India,
Persia, Chaldea, Egypt, Media, Assyria, and other lands had foretold this event
for many centuries, and all the mystics and occultists longed for the day
"when the Master would appear." The Jews also had many traditions
regarding the coming of a Messiah, who would be born of the seed of David, at
Bethlehem, but their Messiah was looked upon as likely to be an earthly king,
destined to free Israel from the Roman yoke. And so, the tradition of the Jews
was regarded as of inferior moment to their own predictions, by the Mystic and
Occult Brotherhoods of the East. To them it was to be an avatar of
Deity—God in human form come to take his rightful seat as the Grand Master of
the Universal Grand Lodge of Mystic—a descent of pure Spirit into matter. This
conception certainly was very much higher than that of the Jews.
And
so, knowing these things, we may readily understand why the Magi pursued their
search with such ardor and enthusiasm. They had many weary miles of travel to
Bethlehem, over a year being consumed in the journey. They reached Bethlehem
over a year after the birth of Christ and the appearance of the Star, the sight
of which had started them on their quest. They sought not a new-born babe, as
common belief has it—they searched for a child born over a year before. (We
refer the student to any reference work, for a verification of this last
statement. The illustrations in the Sunday school books showing the Wise Men
worshipping a new born babe in the manger are on a par with the others
mentioned. The Wise Men had nothing to do with the stable or the manger—for
Joseph, Mary and the Babe were lodged in a house by that time, as we shall see
as we proceed.)
At
last after their long and weary wandering over hill and plain, mountain and
desert, the Magi found themselves in Jerusalem, inquiring diligently as to the
whereabouts of the Master of Masters—the Promised One, whose coming had been
the subject of prophecy for centuries among the Eastern peoples. The Jews of
whom they inquired, although not familiar with the predictions regarding a
Mystic Master, or avatar of Deity, were nevertheless
thoroughly familiar with the prophecies of the coming of the Hebrew Messiah,
and naturally thought that it was of this expected earthly King of the Jews
that the Magi inquired, and so they reported it far and wide that these Great
Men from the East had come to Jerusalem to find the Messiah—the King of the
Jews, who was to deliver Israel from the Roman yoke. And, as the Gospel of
Matthew (2:3) informs us: "When Herod the king heard it, he was troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him." Naturally so, when it is remembered that it
was an Earthly Kingdom that they expected the Messiah would inherit. And so,
gathering the chief priests and scribes of Jerusalem around him, he bade them
tell him the particulars regarding the prophecies regarding the Messiah—where
he was expected to be born. And they answered him, saying: "In Bethlehem
of Judea for so hath the prophets spoken."
And
hearing the testimony of the scribes and priests, the wily Herod, who feared
the realization of this old Hebrew prophecy which threatened to cost him his
throne if fulfilled, called the Magi to his palace and in private consultation
inquired of them the reason of their search. And when they told him of the
astrological indications—of the "Star"—he was still more wrought up,
and wished to locate the dangerous child. And so he inquired of them the exact
date at which the star had appeared, that he might be better able to find the
infant, knowing its date of birth in Bethlehem. (See Matthew 2:7.) And learning
this he bade them go to Bethlehem and find the child they sought, and cunningly
added, "And when ye have found him, bring me word, that I also may come
and worship him." Thus craftily concealing his intentions to seize and
kill the child, he endeavored to press the Magi into his service as detectives,
by pretending to join in their desire to locate the Divine Child.
The
Magi traveled on to Bethlehem, and arriving there made diligent inquiry
regarding infants that had been born about the time that the star appeared.
There were many infants born in Bethlehem during the same month, of course, and
the search was difficult. But they soon heard strange rumors about a babe that
had been born to travelers in Bethlehem about that time, the birth of whom had
been attended by a strange occurrence. This peculiar happening is related in
Luke 2:8-20, in which it is stated that at the time of the birth of Jesus in
the manger, certain shepherds keeping the night-watch over their flocks saw an
angel standing by them, and "the glory of the Lord" shining around
about them. And the angel bade them be not afraid, for to them was to be given
tidings of great joy, for there was born that very day, in Bethlehem, one who
was to be the Anointed Lord of the world. And the angel further directed them
that the babe would be found lying in a manger in a stable, wrapped in
swaddling clothes which was to be their sign. And then suddenly the place was
filled with a multitude of supernatural beings, praising God, singing,
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and good-will among
men." And the shepherds flocked to the town, and there found the child in
the manger. And they spread abroad the report of the wonderful event
accompanying the birth of the child. And consequently the child and its parents
became objects of more or less public interest.
And
so when the Magi instituted their search they were in due time informed of this
strange occurrence. And they visited the house of Joseph and Mary and saw the
Babe. Making close inquiry of the parents, they found that the time of the
child's birth tallied precisely with the moment of the astrological signs. Then
they cast the Child's horoscope and they knew that their shepherd's vision
coincided with their own science, and that here indeed was He for whom the
Eastern Occultists and Mystics had waited for centuries. They had found the
Master! The Star Child was before them!
Then
these Great Men of their own lands—these Adepts, Masters and
Hierophants—prostrated themselves on the ground before the child and gave him
the salutation due only to the great Occult Master of Masters who was come to
take his seat upon the Throne of the Grand Master of the Great Lodge. But the
child knew naught of this, and merely smiled sweetly at these strange men in
gorgeous foreign robes, and reached out his little hand toward them. But Occult
tradition has it that the tiny fingers and thumb of his right hand, outstretched
toward the Magi, unconsciously assumed the mystic symbol of the Occult
Benediction, used by the Masters and Hierophants (and now used by the Pope in
Papal Benediction) and gave to the worshippers that Master's benediction. The
tiny Master of Masters thus gave his first blessing to his followers, and
exalted worshippers. But His Throne was not that of the Great Lodge, but a
still higher place—the knees of a Mother!
And
the Magi then made mystic and symbolic offerings to the child—Gold,
Frankincense and Myrrh offered they Him. Gold, signifying the tribute offered
to a Ruler, was the first symbol. Then came Frankincense, the purest and rarest
incense used by the Occult and Mystic Brotherhoods and Orders, in their
ceremonies and rites, when they were contemplating the sacred symbol of the
Absolute Master of the Universe—this Frankincense was their symbol of worship.
Then, last symbol of all, was the Myrrh, which in the occult and mystic
symbolism indicated the bitterness of mortal life, bitter though pungent,
preserving though stinging—this was the meaning of the Myrrh, that this child,
though Divine in his inner nature, was still mortal in body and brain, and must
accept and experience the bitter tang of life. Myrrh, the strength of which
preserves, and prevents decay, and yet which smarts, and tangs, and stings ever
and ever—a worthy symbol of Mortal Life, surely. Wise Men, indeed, ye Magi!
Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh—a prophecy, symbol, and revelation of the Life of
the Son of Man, with His indwelling Pure Spirit.
And
the Magi, having performed their rites and ceremonies, departed from Bethlehem.
But they did not forget the Child—they preserved a careful watch over his
movements, until they saw him again. Saw Him again? you ask? Yes, saw
him again! Though the Gospels say naught of this, and are silent for a
period of many years in the Life of Jesus, yet the records and traditions of
the Mystics of the East are filled with this esoteric knowledge of these
missing years, as we shall see as we proceed. Left behind by the Magi, but
still under their loving care, the Child waxed strong and grew in mind and
body.
But
the Magi, being warned by higher intelligences in a vision, did not return to
the wily and crafty Herod, but "departed unto their own country another
way." (Matt. 2:12.) And Herod waited in vain for their return, and
finally discovering their escape wrathfully ordered the massacre of all male
children that had been born in Bethlehem and its suburbs of two years of age
and under. He calculated the two years from the witnessing of the
"star" by the Magi. Matthew 2:16 states the story of the fixing of
the time as follows:
"And
slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and all the borders thereof,
from two years old and under, according to the time which he exactly
learned of the wise men."
Herod
sought to kill the feared Messiah—the King of the Jews, who threatened to drive
him from his earthly throne—by killing all the male infants in Bethlehem that
had been born since the astrological indication as stated by the Magi.
But
this plot failed, for Joseph had been warned by "an angel in a dream"
(which mystics teach was the Astral Form of one of the Magi) and was told to
take the mother and child and flee into Egypt, and to stay there until the death
of Herod. And so Joseph, Mary, and Jesus then fled from the wrath of Herod, and
stole silently away to Egypt. And the Occult traditions have it that the
expenses of the journey of this poor carpenter and his family—that journey into
strange lands, hurried, and without the chance to earn money along the way—was
accomplished by the means of the Gold that the Magi had offered to Jesus, and
which they had insisted upon his parents storing away for His use. And so the
gold of these Occult Mystics saved the founder of Christianity from massacre.
And how poorly has Christianity repaid the debt, when one thinks of the
persecutions of the Oriental "heathen" by the so-called Christians of
all times!
And
note this—they carried the child to Egypt, the home of Mystery and
Occultism—the land of Isis! A worthy resting place for the Great Occult Master
that was to be! And Occult tradition also has it that one night, wearied with
their long journey, the family halted and passed the night in the place of the
Sphinx and Pyramids. And that the Mother and Babe rested between the
outstretched forepaws of the mighty Sphinx, which held them safe and secure,
while Joseph threw himself on the base before them, and slept on guard. What a
scene—the Master as an infant protected by the Sphinx, that ancient Occult
emblem and symbol, while close by, reared like mighty watchful sentinels, stood
the Great Pyramids of Egypt, the master work of Egypt's Mystics, every line and
inch of which symbolizes an Occult Teaching. Verily, indeed is Christianity
cradled in the lap of Mysticism.
Thus
endeth our First Lesson. The Second Lesson will take up the Mystic Teachings
regarding the Divine Incarnation of the Spirit in the mortal body of Jesus—a
subject of the greatest importance to all who are troubled with this difficult
point. We hope to be able to shed the Mystic light of Truth upon this corner
which so many have found dark, non-understandable, and contrary to reason,
natural law and science. The Mystic Teachings are the great Reconciler of Faith
and Reason.
NEXT CHAPTER
The Mystery of the Virgin Birth
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